Friday Feature: Potential Specialty Crop – Florida Tea Production

By Doug Mayo 

Researchers at the University of Florida’s Horticulture Department have been evaluating the possibility of tea production in Florida.  This week’s featured video was published by UF/IFAS to share the highlights of the trails that have been conducted south of Gainesville, at the Plant Research and Education Center.  As popular as specialty teas have become in the US, there may be potential for this alternative crop in the region. Tea is in the same plant family as camellias, so there is hope that suitable lines can be found for further testing.  At this point, scientists are simply trying to identify cultivars that are adapted to this climate, but have also begun working on possible production practices.